Fans leaving Game 4 are met by protests a day after reports of Clippers owner Donald Sterling’s racist comments surfaced.

Photo: Sam Wolson / Special To The Chronicle

Fans leaving Game 4 are met by protests a day after reports of...

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Clippers players stand by the bench as a foul is reviewed to see if it was flagrant as they wear their warm up shirts inside out in the second half. The Golden State Warriors played the Los Angeles Clippers at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, April 27, 2014, in Game 4 of the first-round playoff series.

Clippers players stand by the bench as a foul is reviewed to see if...

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Shelly Sterling, estranged wife of Donald Sterling, owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, sits courtside after the Warriors defeated the Clippers in Game 4 on Sunday. Donald Sterling did not attend the game in the wake of a backlash to alleged racially insensitive remarks made to his girlfriend and published by website TMZ.com The Golden State Warriors played the Los Angeles Clippers at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, April 27, 2014, in Game 4 of the first-round playoff series.

Charlie Walker (center) and several other protesters outside the Warriors-Clippers game at the Oracle Arena in Oakland clutch signs expressing their indignation about the Clippers owner's reported racist remarks.

Photo: Sam Wolson, Special To The Chronicle

Charlie Walker (center) and several other protesters outside the...

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Oakland and San Francisco residents stand outside of Oracle arena with signs protesting recent comments made by the Los Angeles Clippers' owner Donald Sterling during a game against the Clippers on April 27th 2014.

Photo: Sam Wolson, Special To The Chronicle

Oakland and San Francisco residents stand outside of Oracle arena...

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An Oakland resident holds up a sign as the Los Angeles Clippers' team bus arrives outside of Oracle arena before a game against the Golden State Warriors on April 27th 2014. The sign was made in retaliation to alleged racist comments made by Los Angeles Clippers' owner Donald Sterling.

Photo: Sam Wolson, Special To The Chronicle

An Oakland resident holds up a sign as the Los Angeles Clippers'...

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Oakland and San Francisco residents stand outside of Oracle arena with signs protesting recent comments made by the Los Angeles Clippers' owner Donald Sterling during a game against the Clippers on April 27th 2014.

Photo: Sam Wolson, Special To The Chronicle

Oakland and San Francisco residents stand outside of Oracle arena...

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Members of the Los Angeles Clippers wear their warm up outfits inside-out as they watch the game against the Warriors in Oakland, Calif. The Golden State Warriors take on the Los Angeles Clippers in the fourth game of the NBA playoffs Sunday April 27, 2014.

Photo: Brant Ward, The Chronicle

Members of the Los Angeles Clippers wear their warm up outfits...

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NBA Commissioner Adam Silver walks into an Warriors owners' lounge area at the end of the first half. The Golden State Warriors played the Los Angeles Clippers at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, April 27, 2014, in Game 4 of the first-round playoff series.

In this photo taken on Friday, Oct. 25, 2013, Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling, right, and V. Stiviano, left, watch the Clippers play the Sacramento Kings during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles. The NBA is investigating a report of an audio recording in which a man purported to be Sterling makes racist remarks while speaking to his Stiviano. NBA spokesman Mike Bass said in a statement Saturday, April 26, 2014, that the league is in the process of authenticating the validity of the recording posted on TMZ's website. Bass called the comments "disturbing and offensive." (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Photo: Mark J. Terrill, Associated Press

In this photo taken on Friday, Oct. 25, 2013, Los Angeles Clippers...

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In this photo taken on Friday, Oct. 25, 2013, Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling, center, and V. Stiviano, right, watch the Clippers play the Sacramento Kings during the first half of an NBA basketball game, in Los Angeles. The NBA is investigating a report of an audio recording in which a man purported to be Sterling makes racist remarks while speaking to his Stiviano. NBA spokesman Mike Bass said in a statement Saturday, April 26, 2014, that the league is in the process of authenticating the validity of the recording posted on TMZ's website. Bass called the comments "disturbing and offensive." (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Photo: Mark J. Terrill, Associated Press

In this photo taken on Friday, Oct. 25, 2013, Los Angeles Clippers...

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In this photo taken on Friday, Oct. 25, 2013, Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling, center, and V. Stiviano, right, watch the Clippers play the Sacramento Kings during the first half of an NBA basketball game, in Los Angeles. The NBA is investigating a report of an audio recording in which a man purported to be Sterling makes racist remarks while speaking to his Stiviano. NBA spokesman Mike Bass said in a statement Saturday, April 26, 2014, that the league is in the process of authenticating the validity of the recording posted on TMZ's website. Bass called the comments "disturbing and offensive." (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Photo: Mark J. Terrill, Associated Press

In this photo taken on Friday, Oct. 25, 2013, Los Angeles Clippers...

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The Williams family from San Lorenzo got to their seats early at Oracle arena in Oakland, Calif. The Golden State Warriors take on the Los Angeles Clippers in the fourth game of the NBA playoffs Sunday April 27, 2014.

Photo: Brant Ward, The Chronicle

The Williams family from San Lorenzo got to their seats early at...

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Every fan seemed to have a smart phone camera as a memorable day was recorded at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif. The Golden State Warriors take on the Los Angeles Clippers in the fourth game of the NBA playoffs Sunday April 27, 2014.

Photo: Brant Ward, The Chronicle

Every fan seemed to have a smart phone camera as a memorable day...

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A group of young fans got courtside seats for the warm ups as they watched Jordan Crawford at Oracle arena. The Golden State Warriors take on the Los Angeles Clippers in the fourth game of the NBA playoffs Sunday April 27, 2014.

Photo: Brant Ward, The Chronicle

A group of young fans got courtside seats for the warm ups as they...

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An unidentified Clippers fan stopped to greet usher John H. before the game at Oracle arena in Oakland, Calif. The Golden State Warriors take on the Los Angeles Clippers in the fourth game of the NBA playoffs Sunday April 27, 2014.

Photo: Brant Ward, The Chronicle

An unidentified Clippers fan stopped to greet usher John H. before...

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The stands began to fill for a must win game for the Warriors at Oracle arena in Oakland, Calif. The Golden State Warriors take on the Los Angeles Clippers in the fourth game of the NBA playoffs Sunday April 27, 2014.

Photo: Brant Ward, The Chronicle

The stands began to fill for a must win game for the Warriors at...

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Los Angeles Clippers head coach Doc Rivers, right, answers questions during a pregame news conference before Game 4 of an opening-round NBA basketball playoff series against the Golden State Warriors on Sunday, April 27, 2014, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez, Associated Press

Los Angeles Clippers head coach Doc Rivers, right, answers...

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Golden State Warriors head coach Mark Jackson answers questions during a pregame news conference before Game 4 of an opening-round NBA basketball playoff series against the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday, April 27, 2014, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez, Associated Press

Golden State Warriors head coach Mark Jackson answers questions...

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There were protests inside Oracle Arena as well. Rather than boycott the game as some suggested, the Clippers wear their warm-up jerseys inside out in response to Sterling.

Photo: Brant Ward / The Chronicle

There were protests inside Oracle Arena as well. Rather than...

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Oakland and San Francisco residents stand outside of Oracle arena with signs protesting recent comments made by the Los Angeles Clippers' owner Donald Sterling during a game against the Clippers on April 27th 2014.

Photo: Sam Wolson, Special To The Chronicle

Oakland and San Francisco residents stand outside of Oracle arena...

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Oakland and San Francisco residents stand outside of Oracle arena with signs protesting recent comments made by the Los Angeles Clippers' owner Donald Sterling during a game against the Clippers on April 27th 2014.

Photo: Sam Wolson, Special To The Chronicle

Oakland and San Francisco residents stand outside of Oracle arena...

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Oakland and San Francisco residents stand outside of Oracle arena with signs protesting recent comments made by the Los Angeles Clippers' owner Donald Sterling during a game against the Clippers on April 27th 2014.

Photo: Sam Wolson, Special To The Chronicle

Oakland and San Francisco residents stand outside of Oracle arena...

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Oakland and San Francisco residents stand outside of Oracle arena with signs protesting recent comments made by the Los Angeles Clippers' owner Donald Sterling during a game against the Clippers on April 27th 2014.

Photo: Sam Wolson, Special To The Chronicle

Oakland and San Francisco residents stand outside of Oracle arena...

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Oakland and San Francisco residents stand outside of Oracle arena with signs protesting recent comments made by the Los Angeles Clippers' owner Donald Sterling during a game against the Clippers on April 27th 2014.

Photo: Sam Wolson, Special To The Chronicle

Oakland and San Francisco residents stand outside of Oracle arena...

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Fan Kevin Phillips holds up a sign making light of controversies surrounding the Los Angeles Clippers before Game 4 of an opening-round NBA basketball playoff series against the Golden State Warriors on Sunday, April 27, 2014, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez, Associated Press

Fan Kevin Phillips holds up a sign making light of controversies...

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Shelly Sterling, center, estranged wife of Donald Sterling, owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, sits courtside during the second half as the Warriors defeated the Clippers in Game 4 on Sunday. Donald Sterling did not attend the game in the wake of a backlash to alleged racially insensitive remarks made to his girlfriend and published by website TMZ.com. The Golden State Warriors played the Los Angeles Clippers at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, April 27, 2014, in Game 4 of the first-round playoff series.

For a few hours Sunday, a parking lot in East Oakland became the epicenter of America's long, unresolved struggle with racism.

There, as a diverse crowd of almost 20,000 gathered at Oracle Arena to watch the Golden State Warriors beat the Los Angeles Clippers in an NBA playoff game, race was on almost everyone's mind: the nuances, the double standards, its connection with sports and money, and what happens next.

It was the Clippers' first game since Friday's release of a recording reportedly of the team's owner, Donald Sterling, telling his girlfriend not to associate with African Americans.

"Just now, I had to explain to my kids that there's still racism in the world," said Cecil Banks, a forklift operator from Oakland who brought his two young sons to the game and who is African American. "It's sad that a man with so much power still feels the way he does. But what can we do? We just have to teach our kids to keep on going. Move forward."

Sterling did not attend the game - a wise move, fans said, considering Oakland's strong African American community.

But that didn't stop fans from sounding off on the 80-year-old owner.

'Can't ignore it'

"It's bad sportsmanship. It's bad for the fans, bad for the players, bad for everyone," said Valerie Thomas, a housekeeper who lives in Pittsburg. "I want to see the NBA do something about it. Ban him, make him get counseling, anything. I doubt it will help, but they can't just ignore it."

Corbin Whitehead, a cable technician from Oakland, said Sterling "would have been booed out of the whole city" if he had shown up.

Nonetheless, Whitehead said he wasn't surprised, or particularly affected, by Sterling's alleged comments.

"I'm black, and I used to live in Arizona. I've heard it all," he said. "This isn't the first time someone's said something ignorant, and it's not the last time. I'm glad people are talking about it, but I'd be more glad if something actually changes."

Obama reacts

Even President Obama, traveling in Malaysia, commented on the Sterling controversy.

"When ignorant folks want to advertise their ignorance, you don't really have to do anything, you just let them talk," the president said during a news conference, according to the Associated Press. "The United States continues to wrestle with the legacy of race and slavery and segregation that's still there, the vestiges of discrimination."

The audio was released Friday by the website TMZ, which identified the speaker as Sterling. It was allegedly recorded by Sterling's girlfriend, V. Stiviano, who is of black and Mexican descent. In the recording, Sterling apparently tells Stiviano not to post pictures of herself with African Americans, and not to bring blacks, specifically Magic Johnson, to Clippers games.

Bad timing

Some fans said the true shame of the Sterling tape is not his alleged comments, but the fact that it was released during the playoffs. Ulonzo Gilliam, a barber from Merced who is African American, said the distraction is unfair to players who've worked hard all season.

"I feel compassion for the Clippers," he said. "Especially as an African American man, to hear something like that, it just blindsides you. The players need to be focusing on the task at hand right now, not all this stuff. It's really not fair to them."

Catherine Turner, a caterer from Fremont, said that racial sensitivity is an ongoing challenge, even for African Americans. She said she was at a grandchild's sporting event recently and said, perhaps too loudly, "Look at that n- run." The school principal called her in the next day and told her other fans had complained.

"I'm black. I never meant it to be disrespectful," she said. "I never, ever thought anyone would be offended. Now, whenever I feel myself about to say it, I bite my tongue. I really learned something."

No redemption

She expects Sterling will face a backlash, as have other celebrities who've made racist remarks.